Literary Devices for Learning Literature

Literary Devices

1. LITERARY DEVICES: Interesting when you read, useful when you write! A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words in a distinctive way.

2. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Language that has meaning beyond the literal meaning;also known as “figures of speech.”

3. SIMILE is an expression comparing one thing to another using the words “like” or “as”. Examples: He ran like a cat, lightly and quietly. Her blue mood passed as quickly as an afternoon rain shower.

4. M E T A P H O R is a comparison of two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as”. Examples: He was a statue, waiting to hear the news. She was a mother hen, trying to take care of everyone around her.

5. HYPERBOLE is an obvious exaggeration or overstatement. Examples: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!

6. P E RS O N I F IC A T I O N is when a writer gives human qualities to animals or objects. Examples: My car drank the gasoline in one gulp. The cat laughed . The newspaper headline glared at me.

7. ONOMATOPOEIA is a word that imitates the sound it represents. Examp le s: crunch zap t i ck- tock whoosh

8. IMAGERY is when a writer invokes the five senses. Examples: The smell reminded him of rotting tomatoes. The fence was uneven, like baby teeth growing awkwardly in. (also a simile!)

9. FORESHADOWING Important hints that an author drops to prepare the reader for what is to come, and help the reader anticipate the outcome EXAMPLE A pipe is going to burst, but before it does, the author writes a scene where the family notices a small dark spot on the ceiling, but ignores it.

10. ALLITERATION is the repetition of the same consonant sound in words occurring near one another. Examples: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Sally sells seashells by the seashore. Come and clean the chaos in your closet. The big, bad bear scared all the baby bunnies by the bushes. Shut the shutters before the banging sound makes you shudder. Go and gather the green leaves on the grass.

11. A LL US I O N is a casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. Examples: If it doesn’t stop raining, I’m going to build an ark. My sister has so many pets I’m going to call myself Old McDonald. I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s. When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasn’t necessary. Chocolate was her Achilles’ heel.

12. PARADOX He was a brave coward. When you win all the time, you lose. You can save money by spending it. I know one thing; that I know nothing. This is the beginning of the end. Deep down, you're really shallow. reveals something true which at first seems contradictory . Examples:

13. SYM B O L I S M is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. Examples: Pink - the fight against breast cancer The Statue of Liberty – freedom Roses stand for romance. Violets represent shyness. Lilies stand for beauty and temptation. Chrysanthemums represent perfection.

14. IDIOM is an expression with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the words. Examples: I got cold feet before my speech = was scared my boss gave me the green light = my boss said yes draw the curtains = close the curtains put the lights out = turn off the lights

15. O XYM O R ON two opposite terms. on l y c h o i ce Examples: a peaceful war a generous cheapskate dark sunshine tragic comedy unbiased opinion virtual reality definite maybe original copies

16. E UP H E M I S M is a p o li t e word or p h r a se used in pla c e of one that may be too direct, unpleasant, or embarrassing. Examples: pass away = die let go = fired pre-owned/preloved = used Pregnancy termination instead of abortion On the streets instead of homeless Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled Fell off the back of a truck instead of stolen Disabled/handicapped to physically challenged fat to vertically challenged ignorant to mentally challenged poor to working class remedial to developmental

17. C L IC H É is an expression that has lost its power or originality from overuse. Examples: talking a mile a minute quiet as a mouse easy as pie They all lived happily ever after Read between the lines Fall head over heals Waking up on the wrong side of the bed

18. PUN is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings Examples: A man stole a case of soap from the corner store.He made a clean getaway. I really wanted a camouflage shirt, but I couldn't find one. The grammarian was very logical. He had a lot of comma sense. A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired. A pessimist's blood type is always B- negative.

19. ANAPHORA In writing or speech, the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora . EXAMPLE “ Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.” “ My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.”

20. ASS O N A N C E This figure of speech is similar to alliteration because it also involves repetition of sounds. But this time it’s vowel sounds that are being repeated. Assonance creates internal rhyming within phrases or sentences by repeat vowel sounds that are the same EXAMPLES “On a proud round cloud in white high nigh “Fire at the private eye hired to pry in my business” "It beats . . . as it sweeps . . . as it cleans!“ "I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless.“ "Hear the mellow wedding bells" by Edgar Allen

21. APOSTROPHE In literature, apostrophe is a figur e of speech sometimes represented by an exclamation, such as “Oh.” A writer or speaker , using apostrophe, speaks directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object. EXAMPLE “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let meclutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.” Feet , don't fail me now. Twinkle, twinkle, little star , how I wonder what you are.

22. WORK PERIOD

23. LITERARY DEVISE SUPER MARIO BROTHERS ESCAPE ROOM

24. HELP SAVE PRINCESS PEACH!! YOU have to defeat five villains in order to help Princess Peach, the princess of alliteration, escape the evil clutches of Bowser. WHO WILL ESCAPE???

25. DIRECTIONS There are 5 locks that you must unlock to save Princess Peach. Each lock can be found in the pdf or word document located on the LMS OneNote site or your teacher’s blog site. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE PUZZLES IN ORDER. Write down your answers on a sheet of paper then go to the form link and enter your answers. You can refer back to this ppt for clues. GOOD LUCK!!